David Cameron appoints anti-gay marriage MP as minister for equalities

David Cameron appoints anti-gay marriage MP as minister for equalities

May 13, 2015

The Conservative leader has announced Caroline Dinenage has been given the role of Parliamentary under secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice and the minister of equalities at the Department for Education, despite her past statements disagreeing with equal marriage.

Making public statements on equal marriage, Caroline Dinenage has expressed that the “state has no right” in the redefining of marriage “as the church states marriage is between one man and woman” before going on to say “the institution of marriage is distinctive” and that “preventing same-sex couples from being allowed to marry takes nothing away from their relationship.”

“These proposals were not included in any of the three main manifestos nor did it feature in the Coalition’s Programme for Government. As I have mentioned, under current law same-sex couples can have a civil partnership but not a civil marriage and I believe that there is no legitimate reason to change this.”

David Cameron, being a public supporter for the LGBT community, appointed Caroline Dinenage as minister of equalities despite voting several times against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in 2013, a bill David Cameron fully embraced.

Dinenage has admitted in a statement from the Department for Education there might be “concerns” about her voting record but insisted: “I am fully committed to advancing the cause of LGBT equality and support the law on same sex marriage.”

“I’m proud that the UK has just been named the most progressive country in Europe for LGB & T rights for the fifth year running, but as the new minister for equalities I know there’s no room for complacency.

Nicky Morgan, the current education secretary, previously held the position of minister for equality and she too had declined to vote for marriage equality.

The Tory MP for Loughborough, who retained her seat in last week’s general election, was controversially appointed to the equalities post in July last year. However Ms Morgan has stated that if she could now re-vote, she probably would.

The changes have come just days after anti-conservative rallies were held outside Downing Street to protest David Cameron’s re-election as PM.

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